After the sparring match between Kang Han and Jin Mugyeol, several other matchups followed.
Kim Lara and Kim Jinsu, who both struggled to control their abilities, initially hesitated in their sparring matches with Kang Han.
This hesitation stemmed from their defense mechanism, fearing they might accidentally kill their opponent.
But that fear was misplaced.
Against overwhelming power, whether it was Kim Lara’s electrical abilities or Kim Jinsu’s cutting skills, their efforts were meaningless.
Soon, the two had no choice but to use their powers at a level far beyond what they had ever demonstrated, just to survive.
And the result was this:
“Ugh…”
“Huff…”
Kim Lara lay sprawled on the ground, crackling with sparks across her body, while Kim Jinsu, slashed and tattered in places, sat resting.
Kang Han, however, remained unscathed.
Kim Lara’s electrical currents were too weak to overpower or control the Berserker’s robust nerves, and
Kim Jin-soo’s cutting abilities were entirely read and countered by the Berserker, failing to even graze him.
Even while they hesitated, Kang Han had come close to killing them multiple times, which finally seemed to make them realize the purpose of this training.
Inside me, the chilling voice of the supervisor echoed:
“Approach it with the resolve to kill your opponent.”
For Kang Han, it was training to maintain a sliver of rationality amidst his berserk state.
For the other cadets, it was an environment where they could fully push their performance to its limits. These words targeted both goals simultaneously.
“Next pair.”
The training continued.
While Kim Lara and Kim Jinsu lay groaning on the ground, the supervisor issued a rare instruction:
“Wi Seoyeon and Gwak Dohyeong, both of you head to the sparring arena together. I’ll allow teamwork.”
The two were cadets specializing in magic.
Two magicians against a Berserker.
One excelled in long-casting bombardment spells, resembling a commander, while the other preferred instant magic, quickly creating moderately durable barriers as needed.
At first glance, the balance seemed appropriate, with a clear victory plan for the magicians.
If Gwak Dohyeong could deploy barriers to protect Wi Seoyeon until her casting was complete, that would be it.
Even a Berserker couldn’t survive a direct hit from a bombardment spell.
This was proven by Wi Seoyeon’s firepower, which had previously turned an undersea wyvern to dust.
Of course, if it were that simple, this training wouldn’t exist in the first place.
Unfortunately, the two magicians didn’t get along well.
“Wait, wait, hold on?!”
“You idiot, what are you doing?!”
Faced with the terrifying charge of the Berserker, Gwak Dohyeong panicked and hastily deployed a barrier, which was laughably easy to break.
The Berserker’s combat instincts dismantled the barrier’s strength, coordinates, and boundaries entirely within the realm of intuition.
With monstrous decision-making, Kang Han either bypassed or shattered the barriers, steadily closing the distance.
Wi Seoyeon, unable to hold back her frustration, barked commands at Gwak Dohyeong, but he seemed incapable of understanding.
The magicians descended into chaos, while Kang Han methodically advanced.
The sparring ended anticlimactically, with the magicians defeated by their own disarray.
Kang Han, meanwhile, was still breathing steadily, unaffected.
Wi Seoyeon, unable to fully demonstrate her abilities, muttered with an empty expression:
“That barrier… useless.”
“Ahem, well, I’m not exactly a practical combat type…”
Gwak Dohyeong awkwardly tried to defend himself, clearly embarrassed.
“It would’ve been much better if someone else had used it. If I were the best at using this barrier, I wouldn’t have turned it into a commercial product in the first place.”
“True. Honestly, I probably could’ve done better taking that barrier and facing Kang Han one-on-one myself.”
“…Hold on, that’s a bit offensive.”
“If you don’t want to hear that, do better next time.”
Even after stepping off the stage, the defeated pair continued to bicker incessantly.
After observing the sparring match, I thought their compatibility wasn’t bad at all.
Gwak Dohyeong’s barrier, though hastily created, was both strong and wide-ranging.
If it could synergize even slightly better with Wi Seoyeon’s keen battlefield analysis, the two could potentially pose a significant threat to Kang Han with their abilities alone.
After all, they were among the academy’s top cadets.
While their utilization of power was still immature, their potential was undeniable.
“It won’t be long before they catch up.”
For now, Kang Han dominated and overwhelmed the others.
But it was clear that the gap in skill would quickly narrow as time went on.
The more Kang Han felt threatened by peers of equal skill, the more the Berserker instincts within him would awaken.
The true training to overcome his berserk nature would begin only then.
As I was mulling over these thoughts, the supervisor, Han Se-ah, called out to me.
“Cadet Lee Dam, it’s your turn now.”
“Should I go ahead?”
Instead of answering me, Han Se-ah glanced at Kang Han.
Though he appeared fine after several sparring matches, I could sense he was reaching his limit.
The veins in his eyes were visible, his pupils red.
If it hadn’t been for a mid-session trigger reset, he wouldn’t have lasted this long.
The supervisor seemed to take this into consideration.
After a brief moment of hesitation, she said,
“It’s best to stop here. Training for day one is over. Everyone, change out of your gear and dismiss yourselves.”
The first day of the Berserker participation training concluded without incident.
In the locker room, I changed out of my sweat-soaked sparring clothes into casual attire.
Upon exiting the building, I saw a familiar figure waiting for me.
Leaning against a sleek black car, the girl greeted me with a wave.
“Lee Dam, done for the day?”
“Lee Rasol? Why are you here?”
“There’s news—something you might be interested in. Why don’t you check your phone?”
Curious, I pulled out my phone.
The screen was already lit up.
Notifications were popping up non-stop, suggesting I’d been added to some kind of group chat.
Familiar names like Kim Lara, Gwak Dohyeong, and Jin Mugyeol appeared.
The chatroom’s name, however, was ridiculously long:
“Berserker Participation Training Project: Teamwork Enhancement Regular Exchange Meeting.”
“What… is this?”
“Exactly what it says. It’s a communication hub for the cadets participating in this project—a sort of casual club, if you will.”
“First I’m hearing of it.”
“It’s a brand-new initiative from just a couple of hours ago. And don’t worry, it’s an officially approved group endorsed by the instructors.”
“And why are you leading it?”
“Well, I’m nominally listed as a participant in the training too.”
What? That made no sense.
Lee Rasol gave me a sly grin.
“It’s not every day you get the academy’s top-ranking cadets—who normally clash like oil and water—to spend two months together. You think I’d let such a golden opportunity slip by? Breaking the ice and forming connections is key, you know?”
“…Ah.”
I finally remembered what motivated Lee Rasol’s actions.
The infamous Lee Rasol, known for her relentless approach to scouting talent, was at it again.
She had previously tried to recruit not just me but also Kang Han.
Her tenacity was something that deserved recognition.
“So, you’re basically acting as the mediator here?”
“Something like that.”
“So, what exactly do you do in this so-called circle?”
“Not much, really. Just get together, eat fancy meals, drink coffee, laugh, and chat…”
“Sounds like a social club.”
“Wow, Lee Dam, you’ve already grasped the essence of our circle!” Lee Rasol winked playfully.
I let out a small sigh.
It felt like I was being dragged into something, but it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
While it was a self-serving effort by Lee Rasol to build connections with the academy’s elites, perhaps what Kang Han needed most at this moment was a friend.
The presence of trusted allies could provide a significant sense of psychological stability, especially in dealing with his berserker nature.
“So, when’s this circle activity happening?” I asked.
“I’ve already reserved the restaurant. Hurry up and get in.”
As we arrived at the venue, I thought about how the world perceived berserkers.
The infamous rampage of Demian Kreuz had not only resulted in his death and the deaths of his teammates but also left a lasting scar on how berserkers were viewed.
While there had been varied perspectives before, now there was only cold disdain.
Yet, not everyone fit into the same mold.
There were always those crazy enough to poke a ticking time bomb for fun, rather than fearing it.
Like Kim Lara.
“Ahaha! How’s that? Enjoy the taste of my electricity?”
“Great job, Kim Lara! Burn him to a crisp, that bastard!”
“Puhaha! Even berserkers can’t let their guard down!”
Kang Han, caught off guard by Kim Lara’s sudden ambush, was currently being roasted alive by her electric attacks.
Watching the scene unfold, Lee Rasol gave a shaky laugh, her finger trembling as she pointed.
“Um… is that okay?”
“Don’t worry. Berserkers won’t die from something like that.”
If Kim Lara had been serious about using her full power, the situation would’ve spiraled out of control long before anyone could intervene.
The first activity of the circle would’ve ended in disaster, leaving Lee Rasol in tears as the academy’s elites scattered.
But luckily, that wasn’t the case.
Kang Han, surrounded by Jin Mugyeol, Kim Lara, and Gwak Dohyeong, was clearly being bullied but seemed to be handling it.
In the end, they were all just teenagers.
Whatever tension or conflict had built up during training had long since dissolved.
The circle’s first gathering was held in a fancy party room, filled with luxurious snacks tailored to the cadets’ tastes.
Lee Rasol had gone all out, setting the stage perfectly.
If bonds weren’t formed here, then when would they be?
Aside from Kim Jin-soo, who sat stiffly sipping his drink, everyone else was relaxed, laughing, and chatting.
“Hey…”
I felt a tap on my shoulder.
Wi Seoyeon, sitting beside me, held a long glass bottle of cola, tilting it slightly as if offering me a drink.
“Give me your cup,” she said.
“Huh? You’re going to pour it for me?”
“…”
Wi Seoyeon, even here, wasn’t missing an opportunity to increase her “Lee Dam favorability points.”
Ever since I had carried our group project to an impressive victory, she had been trying to recruit me into her team.
In a way, she reminded me of Lee Rasol, who was eager to bring me into her guild.
However, unlike the socially adept Lee Rasol, Wi Seoyeon’s attempts were clumsy and awkward, though not unpleasant.
“Thanks,” I said reluctantly. “But I could’ve poured it myself.”
“Just take it. Taking care of subordinates is a leader’s responsibility.”
I accepted the drink from her.
Something felt off.
“Isn’t this backward?” I thought.
Who was supposed to be serving whom here?